At the Coalface
At the Coalface
As a social worker, Di Plumb has worked in the field of sexual violence for 27 years, working in different states across Australia, providing counselling to survivors, as well as providing support and supervision to staff within sexual assault support services. For the past 13 years, Di has worked at the Townsville Women’s Centre as a Senior Counsellor. In addition to her role as a sexual assault counsellor, she is responsible for training and supporting counselling staff and providing staff supervision and mentorship. For new staff members, Di provides the introduction and orientation to the service, along with indepth training to prepare new staff for becoming part of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART). Thank you to Di Plumb, Senior Counsellor at the Townville Women’s Centre for talking with us about the work of the Townsville Sexual Assault Response Team, otherwise known as the SART.
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I feel very fortunate to be working in an organisation and in a role that I value and believe has so much importance in our society … being the person who can walk beside a woman as she goes through all the various procedures and experiences that may follow sexual assault.
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07 . QCDFVRe@der, June 2021
How does the SART model operate? The SART model is an integrated holistic response for people who have experienced sexual assault. The Sexual Assault Support Service (a service within the Women’s Centre) works closely with the Criminal Investigation Branch of the Queensland Police Service, the Emergency Department of Townsville University Hospital and nurses from the Clinical Forensic Medicine Unit, who provide forensic examinations for survivors of sexual assault. We respond on a 24-hour basis, 7 days a week, with a roster of trained sexual assault workers. The police or hospital call us as soon as they become aware of a person who wishes to report a sexual assault or seek support after a sexual assault. We present at either the police station or hospital to provide immediate emotional support and information to enable that person to make an informed choice. We ensure they are fully aware of their options, talk to them about their safety and support needs, and support them as they exercise choice about what they wish to do. As part of the SART response, we support men in this crisis space as well. However, women are offered ongoing counselling by the Sexual Assault Support Service at the Women’s Centre, whereas men are provided with initial support and a warm referral to another service that provides counselling to men.
